George Best vs David Luiz: Stats Compared
Winger / Forward, Northern Ireland (born 1946, retired 1984) · Centre-Back, Brazil (born 1987, retired 2023)
Line up George Best next to David Luiz and the contrasts come quickly. Their jobs on the pitch were not the same, yet both redefined what their role could be. George Best finishes with 214 career goals from 616 games — a 0.35 strike rate — against David Luiz's 35 from 650 at 0.05 per match. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, George Best is credited with 0 and David Luiz with 25. Trophy counts give George Best 5 and David Luiz 6, with 1× European Cup (1968) and 1× UEFA Champions League (2012) the standout honours respectively. As a winger / forward George Best bent the role to a predatory template; as a centre-back, David Luiz redefined it with resolute authority. Their routes to the top were distinct: George Best built his reputation across Manchester United, Fulham, others, peaking around 1968, while David Luiz reached his defining level around 2013 after spells with Vitória, Benfica, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Arsenal, Flamengo. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
192 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Northern Irish winger and Manchester United icon; Ballon d'Or winner in 1968 after helping Manchester United win their first European Cup.
“A balance-perfect winger who combined dribbling flair with an eye for goal and a rock-star aura.”
An eccentric, unpredictable Brazilian centre-back famed for his wild hairstyles and thunderous free-kicks, David Luiz won trophies across three major European leagues.
“An unorthodox, high-risk centre-back who combined bold attacking instincts and a huge shot with occasionally erratic positioning.”
Head-to-head stats
Career goals by season
Representative career seasons — goals per season for each player across their documented clubs.
Attribute radar
Attribute ratings are peak-era, 0–100. Different positions naturally skew the profile.
Attribute comparison
Trophy breakdown
- 1× European Cup (1968)
- 2× English First Division (1965, 1967)
- 2× FA Charity Shield (1965, 1967)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2012)
- 2× UEFA Europa League (2013, 2019)
- 2× Premier League (2015, 2017)
- 1× FA Cup (2018)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1963 Manchester United debut aged 17
- 1965 First English First Division title
- 1968 European Cup winner and Ballon d'Or winner
- 1968 Joint top scorer in the First Division
- 1972 Brief retirement then return to Manchester United
- 1974 Left Manchester United
- 1984 Made final professional appearances in the United States
- 2006 Professional debut for Vitória
- 2012 Won UEFA Champions League with Chelsea
- 2018 Won FA Cup with Chelsea
- 2013 Reached the peak of his powers at Chelsea
- 2023 Retired after a final spell at Flamengo
- Finished his career with 35 goals in 650 appearances and 6 major honours. Finished his career with 35 goals in 650 appearances and 6 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give George Best the lead — a narrow margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
George Best edges it (a narrow margin)
